$600 Build for family

[jason gran]

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP

Budget Range: $500-600

System Usage from Most to Least Important: internet, Microsoft word, youtube, email, light gaming (runescape)

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: none.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg/other

Location: California, USA

Parts Preferences:
Amd/Intel Quad-core
SSD 90-128gb
Ram 8-16gb

Overclocking: no

SLI or Crossfire: no

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

additional Comments:

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Built a gaming pc few years back. My family wont touch their pre-2000 dell computers anymore. I need something they can do their homework on, surf the web, and very light gaming.

 

[djangoringo]

My suggestion :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($103.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($71.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $446.68
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

If you don't plan to overclock get the A8-5500, it has a lower power consumption, it's more "expensive"(1$ more), but it has a lower power consumption : http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad5500okhjbox

Same performance as stock as the A8-5600k.

 

[TheBigTroll]

id get something like this
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DWph

-CPU is overclocking ready. the locked version actually costs more so why not?

hard drive is cheaper here
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=74462&promoid=1332

psu is cheaper here
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=63238&promoid=1257

 

[tenaciousk]

There are few things that could be changes here maybe to your preference. But this is a decent amd build that should give you good performance

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($98.79 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI 760GM-E51 (FX) Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($57.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($25.48 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 250GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($51.69 @ Amazon)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7750 1GB Video Card ($83.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z5 ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $477.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-16 17:04 EST-0500)

 

[jason gran]

I was looking at SSD prices, They've shot down incredibly. Are they becoming more reliable? I was thinking maybe that's the way to go seeing as they would only need 90-150gbs MAX.

 

[djangoringo]

You can swap the hdd and get a 128GB SSD, there's room for it in the budget.
Here's some good ssds for the price :
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/plextor-internal-hard-drive-px128m5s
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/sandisk-internal-hard-drive-sdssdhp128gg25

 

[TheBigTroll]

SSDs were always better than hard drives in terms of reliability. but then if you are going to use more than 100gb, you would have to buy a 256gb model, which will cost you more than the 500 dollar budget

 

[jason gran]

Concerns: AMD 965+7750 or the AMD 5600k.

IS the A8 new?
If i bought the 965 and GPU would that be faster than the onboard?
Does onboard take away from the cpu's speed?

 

[djangoringo]

I was looking at SSD prices, They've shot down incredibly. Are they becoming more reliable? I was thinking maybe that's the way to go seeing as they would only need 90-150gbs MAX.

The AMD X4 965 be is a faster cpu and the 7750 is a better gpu than the A8 cpu and gpu, but for your desires an A8 apu will do, it's good for casual gaming, overall it's cheaper.

 

[TheBigTroll]

note that the a8 will use less than half the power sucked by a 965 and a 7750

 

[jason gran]

Ok Ive changed some system REQ's. Sorry guys should have planned this out little further. The SSD idea scares me because i don't want something out dated. newer the better. i see most SSD's are (4's im assuming that means version 4) even if i have to pay slightly over $500

 

[djangoringo]

Ok Ive changed some system REQ's. Sorry guys should have planned this out little further. The SSD idea scares me because i don't want something out dated. newer the better. i see most SSD's are (4's im assuming that means version 4) even if i have to pay slightly over $500

If you don't need much space, then a ssd with 128GB is a good option, the plextor M5S is a reliable ssd and fast, you don't need more than 8GB of ram.
Here's the link with the ssd : http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DWSa
It goes under 500$.

 

[TheBigTroll]

the plextor m5s 128gb is probably what you want to get. low price + great performance

 

[jason gran]

Thanks you all for your help so far.... from all your builds Ive come up with something.
rate?
suggestions?
swaps?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DXnD

 

[TheBigTroll]

-cheaper ram at us.ncix.
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=74758&promoid=1321

for the price of that 7750, i can get a 7770
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=74758&promoid=1321

wouldnt trust that corsair cx 430 to power that rig. get this instead. the cx 430 is pretty low quality
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=63238&promoid=1257

 

[djangoringo]

Thanks you all for your help so far.... from all your builds Ive come up with something.
rate?
suggestions?
swaps?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DXnD

If this is for light gaming (runescape), that's overkill, just get the A8 apu, it will run those games maxout.
I wouldn't get that msi motherboard, it's known to have vrm failures, see here for details : http://www.overclock.net/t/946407/amd-motherboards-vrm-info-database
The psu is decent and more than enough for the whole system, for an apu you can get by with a quality psu with 300W.
The nzxt source 220 is cheaper : http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DXzz

 

[jason gran]

runescape was just an idea of types of games my little brother plays. i like the idea of the 945+gpu though. Ive switched the Ram. The link for the graphics card was for the ram btw. Ive also decided to buy a gtx 650 TI. Just need to find a suitable/reliable motherboard the msi e51 has horrible reviews...unsure about that one also

 

[TheBigTroll]

you can run runescape on intergrated graphics. a 650ti would be overkill

 

[jason gran]

The Reason for the computer isn't runescape, that was actually the least important system usage. However bf4 when it comes out in oct would be played regularly. Im building this computer as a one time fix for all their needs. speed+graphics+durability for future upgrades. i mainly wish to give them a fast alternative to my rig so i don't have to fight for a seat.
Does anyone have an idea for a motherboard?

 

[TheBigTroll]

yeah. nothing at this budget level will run it properly.

good am3 boards start at 100 dollars

 

[djangoringo]

You might be better off with an i3+b75 motherboard and a better gpu if you want to play such games.

 

[jason gran]

Ive updated the price $500-600. The reason i chose the gtx650ti was because the 7750 was roughly $90-110 and the GTX was $125-150. decided the jump in graphics was worth the extra money. maybe im wrong...gaming is the least of my worries. A fast reliable Home pc is what im looking for. something that will last/satisfy their needs.

 

[djangoringo]

Get a card when the game comes out, by then you might have a budget for a mid end card.
My recommendation is to get then a strong cpu like the i5-3470.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DZv9

You might get the xfx 450 core edition : http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=63238&promoid=1257
The case : http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=57909
And the ram : http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=74758&promoid=1321
This way it will be more than 100$, and you'll have free shipping.

 

[jason gran]

i like that i5 build. Being out of the loop for awhile how would you rate that mobo?

 

[djangoringo]

It's a good motherboard for the price, it has all the features that you need, just get it in newegg, because it's out of stock in amazon, it's at the same price, most h77 standard motherboards are more expensive than the z75.
You can see a review here : http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4853/asrock_z75_pro3_intel_z75_motherboard_review/index12.html